6 cases will go before the Court of Appeal for Ontario together this week in what are expected to be landmark cases on mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes.

R V. IAN CHAMBERS
   
Chambers was convicted of possession of a restricted firearm, as well as several other offences. Since he had previously been convicted of a gun possession offence, the mandatory minimum sentence is 5 years. Chambers was actually sentenced to 6 years on that count, but his lawyer argues that the mandatory minimum serves as an "inflationary floor" & Chambers deserves at most a 4-year sentence.

The constitutional issue is being raised for the first time on the appeal, brought by Chambers.

R V. SIDNEY CHARLES

Charles pleaded guilty to several firearm offences after a loaded gun was found in his bedroom at a rooming house. He was subject to the 5-year mandatory minimum sentence for a 2nd offence, but challenged the law about what constitutes an earlier offence.

The judge found there was no charter breach in this case & upheld the law. Charles has appealed.

R V. FRANK MESZAROS
   
Meszaros used a loaded shotgun to threaten 2 people who were fishing in his private trout pond. He was convicted of assault & using a firearm in the commission of an indictable offence.

Meszaros challenged the 1-year mandatory minimum sentence as violating the charter, but the judge dismissed it, finding it was not cruel & unusual or grossly disproportionate. Meszaros has appealed.

R V. HUSSEIN NUR

Nur pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded prohibited firearm. The judge ruled that if the mandatory minimum didn't exist, he would sentence Nur to 2 1/2 years. So, he didn't find the 3-year mandatory minimum to be grossly disproportionate.

The judge did raise several scenarios in which the mandatory minimum would be inappropriate, but decided that could be remedied if the Crown elected to proceed by summary conviction, which is less serious & carries a maximum sentence of 1 year.

Nur challenged the law on the basis that the 2-year gap between the maximum summary conviction sentence & the minimum on an indictable offence was arbitrary & contrary to the charter. The judge agreed, but dismissed the challenge on a technicality. Nur has appealed.

R V. MATTHEW ROCHELEAU

Rocheleau was convicted of robbery with a firearm, along with a slew of other offences stemming from a series of robberies. He argues it's unconstitutional that mandatory minimum sentences for robbery with a firearm &using a firearm while committing an indictable offence must be served consecutively. The judge upheld the mandatory minimum at trial. Rocheleau has appealed.

R V. LEROY SMICKLE

Smickle was in his cousin's house in his boxers, posing for a Facebook picture with a loaded handgun, when police burst in with a search warrant for the cousin, who they believed had illegal firearms.

Smickle was was convicted of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm, but the judge ruled that it would be cruel & unusual to send the 1st-time offender to prison for a "very foolish" act for 3 years--the mandatory minimum enacted in 2008.

The judge declared the sentence law to be unconstitutional. The Crown has appealed.

(The Canadian Press)